Bullying in schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bullying in schools - Essay Example Before anything can be proactively done about bullying in the schools, the problem must first be fully recognized, its magnitude must be realized, its process of development must be identified and adults in key positions must be aware of potential effective strategies to reduce or eliminate bullying behavior in the schools. The word ‘bullying’ as it is used in this context describes a specific behavior pattern of intimidation and varying, sometimes escalating, use of violence. The objective is often nothing more substantial than the feeling of mastery over another individual making the behavior traditionally associated more with boys than with girls. â€Å"Bullying is characterized by bigger and stronger youngsters’ ‘victimizing’ their peers through the repeated use of negative actions, such as physical, verbal or relational aggression† (Pellegrini & Bartini, 2000: 700). While there remains a marked difference between the number of male versus female bullies, this is changing with the increased number of women expected to enter into the competitive social sphere. According to Maccoby (1998), the traditional gender difference was determined to have been largely the result of a culturally stronger male association with physical aggression as an appropriate means of establishing and maintaining peer status or dominance. Whether victim or bully, though, the patterns for an individual’s later social treatment and behavior in school are typically first established in the home. A study conducted by Schwartz, Dodge, Pettit and Bates (1997) discovered children who grew up to be aggressive victims in elementary school had usually experienced punitive, hostile and abusive family relationships during their preschool years. Children who become involved in aggressive acts have usually witnessed greater incidences of adult aggression at home and act out what they’ve seen as they

To my unapproachable husband, Don Juan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

To my unapproachable husband, Don Juan - Essay Example Can it be that you have deceived me with false promises Looking back on our relationship, I wonder how I could be so innocent as to believe you would always be faithful. I have been told of your transgressions and as much as I want to dismiss the frivolous gossip, I cannot completely do so without your returning to me and putting the lie to these words (33). My servant Gusman has tried to ease my pain but even as he speaks he confirms your infidelity. How could I be so blind to your coldness (33, 41) Why have you left me Why can you not face me and defend yourself Let it be known that I can give you any number of excuses and can place the words on your tongue that would convince me that what I have been told is merely hearsay and not your true actions. I will continue to pursue you and when we meet once more, I would ask you to say the words I wish to hear. I ask only that you explain yourself, that you tell me you adore me and that nothing but death can tear us apart. I need to hear you convince me that urgent business called you away, and nothing less than that would separate us. Please make it known that you will return to me as soon as you can and that you live with the thought of being with me once more. Your honeyed words brought me into our nuptial bed, but now you would seem to be without the language of love, more tongue-tied than smooth in speech (41-42). I must tell you, t I must tell you, though it breaks my heart to say it, that my brothers are on a quest to find you and to kill you (69; Fort & Kates 47)). As heart-sore as I am at your leaving me, I do not wish to see you dead. It is my hope that Gusman can deliver this letter at least to your manservant so that you will be warned of danger. Gusman has told me that my devotion to you might be met with poor return should I find you. He has tried to convince me to stay at home, but I have not chosen to listen. Surely, you would not wrong me in this way. Do the holy bonds of matrimony have no meaning to you-you, to whom the sacred doors of the convent were no barrier (34; Fort & Kates 47). Sganarelle, your loyal servant, has called you a scoundrel. Can that truly be At our last meeting, you neglected to clear my mind of doubt, and it was I who invented a hundred good reasons for your sudden departure. Should you, at the very least, choose to answer this letter, you can swear your heart is unchanged and you still adore me. You can tell me how sad you are that business keeps you from returning home for some time, and if I simply return home quietly, you will follow me as soon as your affairs will allow it. If you cannot face me and say these words, at least in a letter they would soothe my pain. The stories I have heard about your infidelity are difficult to accept, and you could so quickly put my doubts to rest. There is talk of a peasant girl, in fact more than one peasant girl, with whom you have dallied (49; Gethner, para. 9). Tell me it is not so. If you can but convince me of fidelity and love, I will erase all of the accusations I am making against you and will love you forever. I have spoken with your father, and he assures me though you have sinned in the past, you have seen the error of your ways, and it is my strongest desire that since our marriage, you have been loyal to me. With hope for our future.